B.A. in Criminology and Justice Studies

The Program offers a major (BA) and a minor in Criminology and Justice Studies.

At the undergraduate level, the goal of the Program is to provide all students with a broad understanding of the functions, roles and critical issues within all the components of criminal, juvenile, and civil justice. We seek to equip majors with the necessary knowledge, insight and sensitivity to occupy positions in public and private criminal justice and juvenile justice agencies and to encourage further professional development and graduate education.

Goals and Objectives of the BA in Criminology and Justice Studies

The Criminology and Justice Studies Program seeks through its multi-disciplinary curriculum to provide students with a broad foundation of knowledge grounded in the social sciences and humanities. Further, recognizing that a humane and equitable provision of justice is the foundation of a democratic society, the Programs seek to sensitize students to the values and views of diverse segments of society. In pursuit of this goal, courses within the curriculum serve to further students' conceptual understanding of the values, ethics, and power relationships involved in the process of justice. The field is both academic and professional; it is both conceptual and applied.

Additional program information

One of the strengths of the major program is the option for students to complete an internship in the field (which also satisfies the University ELR requirement). Students receive academic credit in exchange for work in a justice-related agency. More information is available from the Internships web site, found here: http://www.kent.edu/sociology/resources/internships.cfm.

In addition to the major requirements below, all majors must complete the University's Kent Core and College of Arts and Sciences’ General Requirements. These are listed on the Roadmaps for each concentration. In addition, the College requires all students who major in one of its programs to participate in an outcomes assessment. Students are strongly encouraged to seek advising and have access to advising assistance in both the College and the Department.

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